Sheffield Tigers 21 v Fylde 15: report by Simon Taylor
Fylde finished their National 2 North campaign as they began it, with a tough encounter against a physical and determined Sheffield Tigers. The teams had opened the season in September with a 26 all draw at The Woodlands in glorious sunshine. The end of April usually brings similar weather, with attacks in full flow and tired bodies dropping off in defence. However, with Spring still not showing signs of emerging, this finale was played out in Baltic conditions on the exposed sloping pitch at Dore Moor, always a tough place to visit. Whilst the other 6 games in the league had aggregate scores ranging from 66 to 120 points the 36 scored between Fylde and the Tigers was the lowest of the day by some distance.
Fylde took a strong busload of players across the M62 one last time. Unfortunately, this included an array of travelling wounded who were to play no part, including Ben Gould, Freddie Reader, Sam Stott and most notably skipper Ben Gregory, who has rarely missed a minute of league rugby in the last few years, let alone not be part of the matchday squad. That did at least mean Sam Parker got to start at his preferred position at hooker, with Corey Bowker and Pete Altham the starting props. Oli Parkinson as the senior statesman took over as captain, joined in the second row by Matt Garrod. Another much missed player Ethan Hall-Lyon was able to start in the back row, joining the regulars Toby Harrison and Tane Bentley.
In the back line Will Wootton came back in at scrum half, Greg Smith once again was the general at 10, with a new starting centre pairing of Alex Clayton and Tom Forster, Scott Rawlings sadly unable to end his Fylde career with one last away trip due to injury. The back 3 were, as often the case, Ben Turner and Adam Lanigan on the wings, and Jordan Dorrington as the last line of defence.
Playing up the slope and into the wind, Fylde had to withstand 15 minutes of pressure, the Tigers adopting a straightforward approach of hard running from their big ball carrying forwards, mixed in with width as their equally big backs probed the Fylde defensive line. Fylde weathered the storm and looked to put pace on the ball when they had it and stretch the home defence, their own MO as ever. This paid dividends on 15 minutes, when their efforts earnt them a couple of penalties which they used to move up field and set up the catch and drive line out, Tane Bentley choosing the right moment to break off and plunge over for the opening try. Greg Smith was wide with the conversion, but Fylde were ahead at 5-0.
Unfortunately for Fylde, they knocked on in their efforts to control the re-start exit, gifting possession back to the Tigers in good field position, with centre Barney Goatley cancelling out Fylde’s score, also unconverted, and it was 5 apiece. The rest of the first half was nip and tuck, both teams having chances, but defences winning out, forcing errors, and keeping the scoreboard dormant. Fylde chose not to kick a simple penalty and were held up over the line, allowing Sheffield to boot their way downfield. A cheap shot on Corey Bowker off the ball earnt them a penalty but lost them a valuable man, as the ever dependable and hardworking prop was unable to continue, Alex Brooks on as replacement. Fylde trooped off to the break happy with their efforts playing uphill, 5-5 a decent reward for those efforts.
As has sometimes been the case this season, Fylde started slowly and poorly in the second half. With the slope now in their favour, they were guilty of a bit of dithering in their own half, with a forward pass gifting the Tigers a scrum, which they turned into a few phases of possession and their second try on 42 minutes, winger James Norman touching down, their first lead at 10-5. Fylde now became bogged down in their own half, as they seemed reluctant to use the slope and wind and kick their way out of trouble, after one kick had run dead. Veteran stand-off Mark Ireland, usually a deadeye, had missed both conversion attempts but knocked over a penalty on 51 minutes to stretch Sheffield’s lead to 13-5.
Fylde’s coaches Alex Loney and Chris Briers rang the changes in an attempt to inject fresh life and purpose into their charges. Tye Raymont replaced Pete Altham at prop, Sam Carleton made his return on the wing after a long absence, with Adam Lanigan moving to scrum half to replace Will Wooton. Straight from the re-start Jordan Dorrington was taken out competing for the high ball and Fylde kicked the penalty to 10 yards out. At the line out Oli Parkinson was illegally challenged in the air and another penalty awarded. With the home defence not setting up quick enough Sam Parker took the quick tap and charged through 3 much heavier men to touch down. To say Parker punches well above his weight would be an understatement, and this was a fine and courageous score, but one that cost him as he took a knock in the challenge and was replaced by Robbie Kincart. His quick thinking and courage, aided and abetted by Greg Smith’s lovely conversion, had, however, got Fylde back to within a point at 13-12 down.
Fylde had worked their way back into the game now and on the hour mark they forced a kickable penalty, which Smith put between the posts and Fylde had once again taken a narrow lead at 15-13. However, their inability to hold on to a lead for long re-surfaced as they conceded again just 2 minutes later. This was the best move of the game with a slick backs move and a fine catch and quick offload back inside creating space for replacement Louis Townsend to touch down for Sheffield’s third try. The lead had changed hands again, the Tigers back in front at 18-15.
Fylde fought hard to try and create space for their nippy backs to use but decent defence from Sheffield and some inaccuracy from Fylde meant turnovers and penalties in good field position for the home team. Ireland missed one shot at goal but did not let Fylde off the hook twice, and when Fylde knocked on again, then conceded a penalty at the resulting scrum, he banged one over and Sheffield had stretched the lead to 21-15, with only 3 minutes left.
Fylde secured possession once more, and finally put in a good kick to pin Sheffield back 10 yards from their own line. However, and this perhaps summed up Fylde’s day in terms of game management, it seemed nobody can have asked the referee how long was left, as it was the last play, and he blew for full time.
Sheffield named Jordan Dorrington their Fylde man of the match, and it was fair call, his work rate and tenacity was as high as it usually is. Toby Harrison, as ever, led from the front in his running and defence, but as always, with no room to mention everybody individually, the collective application and spirit is what pleases your reporter the most. Fylde may never outgun the opposition in terms of physique, but they always compete in terms of physicality, and when they get the ball, they always play positive mindset rugby, designed to entertain, rugby the way it should be played.
Coach Chris Briers said: “Yesterday was a tough and physical game, which we always expect at the Tigers. There was no lack of commitment or effort on our behalf, and both teams defended well. There was a couple of opportunities we didn’t quite complete, whereas they managed to take a couple of theirs well. The desire and effort was there from us, it came down to fine margins and who took their opportunities.”
Fylde’s industry and effort has never been in doubt this season, apart from perhaps the away defeat at Otley when it was perhaps a tad AWOL. An overall fifth placed finish is not to be sniffed at, although the two 1-point losses at Wharfedale and at home to Lymm were avoidable and may stick in the throat on reflection. Fylde did the double over the bottom 4 teams but won only 2 out of 8 against the teams that finished above them. However, coaches Loney & Briers have dealt with some big challenges, including lots of injuries and unavailability, including some lengthy ones to some big guns, none more so that Dave Fairbrother, who was a big miss for the last 20 games of the season. The rugby committee, management and playing squad should be congratulated for all their efforts in achieving a top 5 place in a highly competitive league. They will no doubt enjoy what break they are allowed before they look at who is moving on and who they can get in as they look to assemble a squad that can maintain the high standards they have already achieved and look to finish as high as possible next season.
Photos courtesy of Sue Garrod.
Fylde: Dorrington, Turner, Forster, Clayton, Lanigan, Smith, Wooton (S. Carleton 42), Bowker (Brooks 33), Parker (Kincart 54), Altham (Raymont 42), Garrod, Parkinson (Captain), Hall-Lyon, Harrison, Bentley (Williamson 77)
Tigers: Baker, Broadley, Goatley, Wager, Norman, Ireland, Holmes, Bennette, Archer (Townsend 58), Garside, Redfern (Monks 61), Fitzsimons (Santamaria 68), Scott (Cartwright 40), Wallace (Hawksworth 68), Calladine
